Position detecting method for touchscreen panel, touchscreen panel, and electronic apparatus

Abstract

A position detecting method for a touchscreen panel includes the steps of (a) determining the presence or absence of contact with the touchscreen panel on a conductive film divided into multiple conductive regions; (b) measuring a time after the detection of the absence of the contact and determining whether the measured time is less than a predetermined time if step (a) determines the absence of the contact; and (c) determining the continuance of the contact if the measured time is less than the predetermined time.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A position detecting method for a touchscreen panel that includes a conductive film divided into a plurality of conductive regions that are electrically insulated from each other, and detects a track of a movement of an object that comes into contact with the touchscreen panel, the position detecting method comprising:
 determining whether a no-touch state in which the object is out of contact with each of the conductive regions is detected or not, after a first touched state in which the object is in contact with a first conductive region of the conductive regions is detected; 
 measuring a duration time between a detection of the no-touch state and a detection of a second touched state in which the object is in contact with a second conductive region of the conductive regions adjacent to the first conductive region and which is detected subsequently to the detected no-touch state, in response to determining that the no-touch state is detected; 
 determining whether the second touched state is detected; 
 determining whether the measured duration time is less than a predetermined time when the second touched state is detected; and 
 outputting a continuous track of the movement of the object that is continuous between the adjacent first and second conductive regions when the measured duration time is less than the predetermined time, and confirming the no-touch state when the duration time from the detection of the no-touch state is longer than or equal to the predetermined time, 
 wherein the touchscreen panel outputs a signal indicating a touched state when the object is in contact with one of the conductive regions, 
 wherein the signal indicating the touched state is continuously output for a certain period which is longer than or equal to the predetermined time after the detection of the no-touch state, and 
 wherein the predetermined time is determined based on at least an interval between the adjacent first and second conductive regions. 
 
     
     
       2. The position detecting method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the conductive film is divided into at least two units in each of a widthwise direction and a lengthwise direction into the conductive regions. 
 
     
     
       3. The position detecting method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a coordinate position of each of a plurality of contact positions of the conductive film and an additional conductive film facing the conductive film in the touchscreen panel. 
 
     
     
       4. The position detecting method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 an interval between the conductive regions is less than or equal to 100 μm. 
 
     
     
       5. A touchscreen panel, comprising:
 a first electrode substrate having a first conductive film formed on a first substrate, the first conductive film being divided into a plurality of conductive regions that are electrically insulated from each other; 
 a second electrode substrate having a second conductive film formed on a second substrate, the second conductive film facing toward the first conductive film; and 
 an electrode provided along four sides of the second conductive film to generate an electric potential distribution therein; and 
 a driver circuit configured to drive the touchscreen panel, 
 the driver circuit including a process part configured to:
 determine whether a no-touch state in which an object is out of contact with each of the conductive regions is detected or not, after a first touched state in which the object is in contact with a first conductive region of the conductive region is detected; 
 measure a duration time between a detection of the no-touch state and a detection of a second touched state in which the object is in contact with a second conductive region of the conductive regions adjacent to the first conductive region and which is detected subsequently to the detected no-touch state, in response to determining that the no-touch state is detected; 
 determine whether the second touched state is detected; 
 determine whether the measured duration time is less than a predetermined time when the second touched state is detected; 
 continuously output a signal indicating the first touched state after the detection of the no-touch state for a certain period of time that is longer than or equal to the predetermined time; and 
 output a continuous track of the movement of the object that is continuous between the adjacent first and second conductive regions when the measured duration time is less than the predetermined time, and confirm the no-touch state when the duration time from the detection of the no-touch state is longer than or equal to the predetermined time, 
 
 wherein the predetermined time is determined based on at least an interval between the adjacent first and second conductive regions. 
 
     
     
       6. The touchscreen panel as darned in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first conductive film is divided into at least two units in each of a widthwise direction and a lengthwise direction into the conductive regions. 
 
     
     
       7. The touchscreen panel as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein:
 an interval between the conductive regions is less than or equal to 100 μm. 
 
     
     
       8. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a touchscreen panel including
 a first electrode substrate having a first conductive film formed on a first substrate, the first conductive film being divided into a plurality of conductive regions that are electrically insulated from each other; 
 a second electrode substrate having a second conductive film formed on a second substrate, the second conductive film facing toward the first conductive film; and 
 an electrode provided along four sides of the second conductive film to generate an electric potential distribution therein; and 
 
 a driver circuit configured to drive the touchscreen panel, 
 the driver circuit including a process part configured to:
 determine whether a no-touch state in which an object is out of contact with each of the conductive regions is detected or not, after a first touched state in which the object is in contact with a first conductive region of the conductive regions is detected; 
 measure a duration time between a detection of the no-touch state and a detection of a second touched state in which the object is in contact with a second conductive region of the conductive regions adjacent to the first conductive region and which is detected subsequently to the detected no-touch state, in response to determining that the no-touch state is detected; 
 determine whether the second touched state is detected; 
 determine whether the measured duration time is less than a predetermined time when the second touched state is detected; 
 continuously output a signal indicating the first touched state after the detection of the no-touch state for a certain period of time that is longer than or equal to the predetermined time; and 
 output a continuous track of the movement of the object that is continuous between the adjacent first and second conductive regions when the measured duration time is less than the predetermined time, and confirm the no-touch state when the duration time from the detection of the no-touch state is longer than or equal to the predetermined time, 
 
 wherein the predetermined time is determined based on at least an interval between the adjacent first and second conductive regions.